In the US we have an epidemic of cavities in children’s teeth, but the facts are that fluoride has no power to prevent cavities. Cavities are caused by bacteria that erode holes in teeth, and fluoride does nothing to help us fight these bacteria (except at dangerously strong concentrations, when it works as a poison to kill them).
The usefulness of fluoride is to promote tooth repair, after damage has been done. If enamel crystals re-grow in the presence of fluoride, they become bigger, smoother, and more perfect, than enamel formed without fluoride. Big crystals have the opportunity to connect with each other, providing a way to bridge gaps and heal holes in the tooth’s outer layer. We know that a smoother outer layer will reflect light, to make teeth shinier and appear whiter. More importantly, a strong outer layer will better resist future attacks by mouth acidity.
Enamel repair and re-building happens every time a weak solution of fluoride is in contact with damaged tooth enamel. There is no reason to drink fluoride, since the benefits are from the interaction of fluoride with the tooth surface. Toothpaste and rinses offer these benefits without the risks that come from ingesting a toxic kind of fluoride, or too much of it.
Most fluoride in tap water is a silico-aluminum fluoride compound, a product of industry that has never been approved by the FDA for human consumption. If someone regularly drinks a lot of water, they may ingest too much of this, and it can concentrate in bones to make them brittle. Fluoride toxicity is a real concern for young children or if you have damaged kidneys or delicate bones. Formula milk has fluoride in the powder and so it should never be mixed with fluoridated tap water. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry warns fluoride-free bottled water should always be used to mix formula milk. In the same way, fluoridated toothpaste should not be recommended for small children, since they usually swallow paste. Xylitol granular crystals on a toothbrush would be a much better alternative to toothpaste for young children. (The only time we recommend a tiny amount of fluoridated paste for a young child is if they have cavities).
A study from Environmental Health Perspectives in July this year showed ingesting high levels of fluoride may harm children’s brain development. The study was a systematic review and showed children in high fluoride areas had lower IQ scores than peers in low fluoride areas. These studies were in China where fluoride levels are extremely high (as a contaminant from industry). You cannot extrapolate this study to fluoridation in the US, but neither should you believe that a lack of fluoride causes tooth decay.
A comparison of the oral health benefits of xylitol and fluoride
The synergistic effects of Xylitol & Dilute Sodium Fluoride
The effect of xylitol and fluoride is synergistic. This means that when you use xylitol it is beneficial, and fluoride can also be beneficial (if you have damaged teeth). When you use these products together for oral health, the effects are greater than you expect by using each product alone.
The following picture shows the cavity-healing effects of using both xylitol and fluoride. The complete study from the Journal of Oral Science can be found HERE. One of the conclusions of this specific study showed that remineralization is accelerated when xylitol is used with fluoride.
How to use xylitol for oral health
We have a number of articles in the Ultimate Oral Health blog that talk about how to best use xylitol for oral health. Here are some quick tips as well as some links to past articles.
- Zellies Granular Xylitol can be wiped on infant teeth to protect them
- Zellie Bears can be used to protect toddlers and young children from cavities, by cleaning their teeth after meals and before sleeping
- Zellies can help prevent cavities in adult teeth. Eat Zellies Mints or Gum after meals, snacks or drinks as all their new teeth erupt.
Approximate conversion: (1 teaspoon xylitol = 5 grams of xylitol = 5 pieces Zellies gum = 10 Zellies mints= 3 ZellieBears/Polar Bears)
Remember best results are seen when you have at least 5 exposures to xylitol throughout the day, with a total amount of 5-10 grams per day.
For more information on fluoride, click HERE to read the chapter dedicated to this topic in Dr. Ellie’s book “Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye“.
For more information on xylitol, please check out the following articles:
- The Power of Xylitol
- How to Use Xylitol for Optimal Benefits
- Ancient Wisdom: The History of Xylitol
- Taking Care of Your Child’s Teeth
——
Want to learn more about oral health? Click here to sign-up for our monthly e-guide!
——
For more information on oral health and xylitol, please visit all of Dr. Ellie’s web-sites:
Zellies.com – learn more & order your Zellies Xylitol & the Complete Mouth Care System
Dr. Ellie.com – a great resource for learning more about oral health & Dr. Ellie
Dr. E Oral Health Coaching – articles, resources and videos to help you learn more
Join the conversation online on the Zellies Facebook page!
To avoid the fluoride in the public water I’ve always given my family Poland Spring water. Only now many years later have I come to learn it is an acidic water, at about 6.5 pH. I am wondering if I should try to neutralize it with xylitol – any thoughts on this? Is there a brand of spring water here in the US that you like?
Also I have just discovered I have abfraction and am getting a mouth guard. I have demineralization at the base of a few of my teeth as a result of clamping/grinding, with gum pulling away and discoloration there at the root. Do you think your protocol would help heal this tooth and gum damage? Thank you, Debbie
Hi Debbie. I have so much to tell you! First I do suggest you use my Complete Mouth Care System and xylitol at the end of every meal, snack, and drink. It does not matter if you have some acidity at meals, providing you end with Zellie’s xylitol mints or gum. The xylitol does not change the pH of anything – but in the mouth, xylitol has multiple benefits and can stimulate a flow of alkaline saliva. I think you will enjoy my next book – Mouth Care Comes Clean – which should be available on Amazon in a couple of months. This book will explain how you can protect your mouth with diet and good habits and why a little acidity at a meal is actually a good thing.
I’m just wondering if I should add some xylitol to my ACT Fluoride rinse and if so how much per bottle? Would it be more effective if I’m not cognizant of eating xylitol after meals? I have no problem, but my kids and husband never bother.
I think that is a good idea and should work fine! In Europe they have mouth wash like ACT but it contains xylitol.
Dear dr Ellie,
I’ve been following your protocol for a few months and am very happy that I learned about it. My 15 y old son was to the dentist about 3 months ago, and they found a cavity. We could see a dark brown mark on his molar. We started the program, and gradually the brownish turned lighter and smaller and smaller. But it seems on the side of his tooth (further out than his brown mark) there is a crack. He has been very good with the xylitol and rinses, but for about 2-3 weeks we got some mints that didn’t have only xylitol while waiting for new xylitol mints since it’s difficult to find her and must be ordered. The dark spots gone must be a good sign and means it’s working, right? I’m just worried that his cavity/crack can get worse. Can he follow the protocol for some more time before checking? I read some place that if we follow the protocol it will anyway halt the cavity?
Mouth health is a balance between damage and repair. We need to ensure that there is always more repair than damage. If you can increase the use of the Complete Mouth Care System to three times a day – that may be enough to tip this balance on the side of repair – sufficiently to give him a clean bill of health at his next dental visit!
Please advise me. My child has interproximal cavities (in between teeth)
Will the complete mouth care system still work?
Thanks
Absolutely if these are permanent teeth and if you follow the directions and give this system about 6-9 months. I would like to know more – for example the age of the child and why you think cavities started. If the child is a mouth breather – maybe you need a xylitol nasal spray. What have you been using for oral care products? Also is there a family history of bad teeth – and are you all prepared to start using the system?
It is essential to limit drinks to mealtimes ( and really limit sodas, juices and drinks that are acidic and sugary). Xylitol must be taken after every drink and snack – at least 5 times a day. You will need your child to get on board with this program and help to remind him/her that before bed and in the morning – teeth must be helped – with appropriate care.
Hi
I am so grateful for your reply. My daughter is 12 , has 9 cavities , of which 2 are interproximal After reading the info on your website, I have a feeling the lack of fluoride could have caused the cavities. She used to use Euthymol .. toothpaste which contains glycerin and no fluoride. Another reason for the cavities could have been due to a poor diet. She used to eat a lot of junk food from Burger King etc.. Her lunch box used to be full of junk food as well..
All the above also applies to 14 year old who has 7 cavities. I have been told that the cavities are small; yet the dentist wanted to put fillings in!
You are a breathe of fresh air. Is it okay for them to drink water between meal or should that be limited to when they eat?
I am so grateful
Kemi
Sent from my iPad
>
When we limit the number of times we eat or drink each day – we limit the number of acidic attacks that damage teeth. Adding xylitol at the end of every meal or snack is another way to limit this damage. If you can stop snacking on sugars and carbohydrates – or snack on gluten-free products, this will also limit damage.
It’s important to limit damage, but we must also increase protection/help for teeth. We can do this by selecting good home care products which “strengthen” teeth. This is best done at times when the benefits will continue for at least half an hour – preferably longer (which is why “preparing teeth” before sleeping is so valuable).
Good oral care products encourage minerals to be attracted to teeth – so they are adsorbed onto the tooth surface ( where they harden and mineralize enamel).The minerals are naturally present in saliva. Some products prevent or disrupt this transfer – which is why I do not recommend many oral care products!
You ask about drinking between meals. Undiluted saliva helps harden teeth – so it is good for teeth to be in contact with saliva for at least a few hours each day. Saliva varies in its mineral content during the day and night. This is called a circadian rhythm. After lunch appears to be when saliva is most mineral-rich. This is why it is good not to eat or drink for a few hours after lunch – to allow the minerals from saliva to go into teeth. Hope this explains!
Hi
I am so grateful for your reply. My daughter is 12 , has 9 cavities , of which 2 are interproximal
After reading the info on your website, I have a feeling the lack of fluoride could have caused the cavities. She used to use Euthymol .. toothpaste which contains glycerin and no fluoride. Another reason for the cavities could have been due to a poor diet. She used to eat a lot of junk food from Burger King etc.. Her lunch box used to be full of junk food as well..
My husband and I have very good teeth
All the above also applies to 14 year old who has 7 cavities.
I have been told that the cavities are small; yet the dentist wanted to put fillings in!
You are a breathe of fresh air. Is it okay for them to drink water between meal or should that be limited to when they eat?
I am so grateful
Kemi
Can a mother to be rid her body of this bacteria so she does not pass it to her UN- born child???
If you were my daughter and let’s suppose you had unfilled cavities and gum disease. The first thing I would do is have you begin to use the Complete Mouth Care System, try to keep drinks and meals to mealtimes as much as possible – and end every meal with either a piece of Zellie’s gum or a couple of Zellie’s mints. Obviously the less sugar your consume, the better – but you would soon notice improvements in your mouth health – just limiting sugar to meal times, and also using xylitol frequently after meals – eating a small amount preferably 5 or 6 times a day.
We have reports of reducing the inflammation caused by mouth bacteria in about 8 weeks with this program, but studies show if you do consume adequate amounts of xylitol for 6 months – you will limit transmission of bacteria to your baby. If you work at this this for 2 years – you can limit the risk of cavities in your baby by 85-95%
This is certainly the easiest and probably the very best way to improve your family’s oral health – I hope you will give it consideration!
You say to only use bottled water for formula, what about BPA leeching into the water from the plastic? I am more concerned about that than flouride.
Mixing formula milk powder with fluoridated water will give an infant too much fluoride – and this may have developmental effects on teeth and possibly other areas of the child’s body. I agree BPA is another big concern, which is why we need to prevent children from ever needing a filling or sealant.
You may want to find out if your local water supply is fluoridated or not – and campaign to get fluoride out of your drinking water ( or you may be lucky and live in a non-fluoridated area). Today some companies offer non-fluoridated water in glass or non-BPA containers, although this may be more costly and only available through stores like Whole Foods. I always suggest if you use formula milk, you should do everything to mix it with the healthiest water available. Most of all we must realize that putting fluoride in water damages teeth of many infants in poor families, since many do not understand this danger exists and do not have resources to buy good water for their infants.
in the long run even a counter top Reverse Osmosis(RO) unit is cheaper than filling jugs at whole foods or the like… my local super market offers 39 cent per gallon refills of bring your own jug. I once figured out that even at 39 cents a gallon a $300 counter top RO unit pays for itself with in 7 months if you exclusively use RO water for cooking and drinking.
It would be so nice if we could get fluoride and crazy stuff out of our drinking water. I sat for three hours last week to try and swing the vote for the removal of artificial fluoride from Austin Texas’ water supply. Austin has wonderful ground water – it is alkaline and has naturally occurring fluoride at 3 ppm – which is just about perfect water.
Why do they have to mess with this and add toxic waste……it is really time for us to stop fluoridation of water in the US.
I was told that xylitol will cause damage to the digestive system I have been careful to buy xylitol only made from birch trees can you help me with this thank-you
There are lots of misconceptions about xylitol, even by dentists and doctors. Xylitol is often confused with “artificial sweeteners” and xylitol could not be more opposite from an artificial sweetener! In cheap commercial products xylitol is mixed with artificial sweeteners because xylitol is expensive and sorbitol, mannitol, and Splenda (sucralose) are cheap. In Europe, for example, Wrigleys makes a pure xylitol gum, but in the U.S. their chewing gum is mainly sorbitol, advertised as “with xylitol”. “Ideal Xylitol” is a granular brand advertised as “mostly xylitol” but when you look you will see xylitol is being mixed with cheaper six carbon sugar alcohols and that 10% by weight is Splenda!
I mention this, because this trickery is confusing and many people have bad stomach problems from sorbitol, mannitol and artificial sweeteners – yet blame xylitol. They get gas and bloating etc. from these horrible ingredients mixed in with xylitol. Splenda changes the pH of the gut and can damage gut bacteria. There are lots of problems with these other products that are often mixed with xylitol. You must look for pure 100% xylitol – like Zellies.
Pure xylitol does not upset the gut, but actually makes the gut healthier! Xylitol breaks to a short chain fatty acid – butyrate – which helps repair the gut lining. Some people, with poor gut health, can have loose stools as they first use substantial quantities of xylitol. Xylitol pulls water to itself ( hygroscopic) and especially those with a weak gut lining will experience water in their gut – which loosens stools. The secret for these people is to start slowly. I suggest a small amount ( like one Zellies mint) after meals, then gradually increase as the gut lining heals.
I hope this answers your question!
thank-you for your response. I will slowly introduce xylitol into my 5 year old sons regimen. I guess I should bring him to dentist and see what stage his pain in his teeth are at before I move on to the whole protocol of closysis Listerine crest and act rinse. Even if his first teeth have problems I want to concentrate on laying the preventative foundation for the permanents. Would you have any input on how the fluoride affects the teeths ability to remineralize when you add fat soluble vit like k2 d3 and A in food forms ex. ( fermented cod liver oil, high mineral supplement )? I would assume these nutrients help the saliva to rebuild the teeth.